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India: Update to IND43330.E of 21 January 2005 on the impact of the 26 December 2004 tsunami on human rights conditions (21-26 January 2005)

Little information on human rights conditions in the tsunami-affected areas during the period covered by this Response could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Two news sources reported on the ongoing situation of the Dalits (also known as "untouchables") in the tsunami-affected areas of India (Boston Globe 23 Jan. 2005; Independent 22 Jan. 2005). The Independent stated that, in response to Dalit discrimination that was occurring in temporary assistance refuges in Tamil Nadu, the state government had to "set up separate relief camps for Dalits" in order to prevent further abuse of these people (22 Jan. 2005).

In addition, with tsunami survivors reportedly now returning to their communities, Dalit villages are either not receiving aid or are receiving the leftovers from nearby fishing villages (Independent 22 Jan. 2005). A representative of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) stated that the aforementioned scenario has taken place in a number of villages within the districts of Nagapattinam and Pondicherry, in Tamil Nadu (ibid.). Moreover, the Independent also mentioned that "[t]he persecution of Dalit tsunami survivors has been mostly at the hands of other survivors, fishermen from the slightly higher Meenavar caste, the community in mainland India hit worst by the tsunami" (ibid.).

According to a 23 January 2005 Boston Globe article, the Dalits received half of the compensation that was given to non-Dalit persons living in nearby fishing villages. In addition, some Dalit communities such as Keripuppam still have not "received any aid," and in response, members of these communities reportedly tried to meet with a Tamil Nadu state government minister on 19 January 2005 (Boston Globe 23 Jan. 2005). Consequently, a few Dalit men were allowed to meet with the minister; however, the outcome of this meeting was not reported (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection.

References

Boston Globe. 23 January 2005. Jehangir S. Pocha. "For Remote Villages in India, Government Relief Efforts Fall Short." (Dialog)

Independent [London]. 22 January 2005. Justin Huggler. "'Untouchable' Caste Find Themselves Deprived of Tsunami Aid." <http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=603453> [Accessed 26 Jan. 2005]

Topics: Human rights,